Must-try dishes and where to eat them

Must-try dishes in Singapore and where to eat them

Singapore's food mixes Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan cooking. This guide covers the must-try dishes and where to eat them, from hawker stalls to seafood restaurants. Most cost only a few dollars, so you can try several in a single day.

Rice dishes

Chicken rice

Poached or roasted chicken comes with rice cooked in chicken stock. It is served with chilli sauce, ginger and dark soy sauce. Many people call it Singapore's national dish. Try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice or Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice in Novena. See our Chicken Rice page for more.

Nasi lemak

This Malay dish is rice cooked in coconut milk. It comes with sambal (chilli paste), fried anchovies, peanuts, egg and cucumber. Fried chicken is a popular extra. Try The Coconut Club in the Bugis and Kampong Glam area, or Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak. See Nasi Lemak.

Noodles and soups

Laksa

Laksa is rice noodles in a rich, spicy coconut curry broth. It often comes with prawns, fish cake and cockles. In the Katong style, the noodles are cut short so you can eat it with just a spoon. Try 328 Katong Laksa in Katong or Sungei Road Laksa. See Laksa.

Bak kut teh

The name means "meat bone tea". It is pork ribs simmered in broth, and the Singapore version is usually clear and peppery. It is often eaten with rice and a pot of Chinese tea. Try Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (New Bridge Road). See Bak Kut Teh.

Char kway teow and Hokkien mee

Char kway teow is flat rice noodles fried with dark soy sauce, egg, Chinese sausage and cockles. It is sweet, smoky and filling. Hokkien mee is yellow noodles and rice noodles fried in prawn stock with prawns and squid. It comes with lime and sambal. Try Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee and Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee.

Seafood and grills

Chilli crab

A whole crab is cooked in a thick, sweet and spicy tomato and chilli sauce. Order fried buns, called mantou, to soak up the sauce. Crab is sold by weight, so ask the price before you order. Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point) is one place to try it. See Chilli Crab.

Satay

Satay is grilled skewers of chicken, beef or mutton. It comes with peanut sauce, cucumber, onion and rice cakes called ketupat. Many satay stalls open in the evening. Haron 30 Satay and Alhambra Padang Satay are both in the East Coast area. See Satay.

Breakfast and Indian favourites

Kaya toast

This is toast with kaya, a sweet coconut and egg jam, and a slice of cold butter. It comes with soft-boiled eggs, which you season with soy sauce and white pepper. Locals often have it with kopi, the local coffee. Try Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Far East Square) or Killiney Kopitiam. Then read How to Order Kopi in Singapore Without Getting Lost.

Roti prata and murtabak

Roti prata is a crispy, flaky flatbread served with curry for dipping. Murtabak is a larger, stuffed version filled with minced meat, egg and onion. Try Springleaf Prata Place for prata. For murtabak, try Zam Zam Restaurant in Kampong Glam.

Where and how to eat these dishes

Most must-try dishes are sold at hawker centres. These are covered, open-sided food centres with many small stalls and shared tables. Good ones to start with include Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat and Old Airport Road Food Centre. Browse more on our Hawker Favourites list.

• Find a seat first. Locals often save a seat with a packet of tissues. This is called "chope". Leave that seat for them.
• Order and pay at the stall. Many stalls take QR code or card payments, but carry some cash just in case.
• Return your tray. Take your tray and dishes to the tray return point when you finish.
• Go early or late. Well-known stalls can have long queues at lunch. Some sell out and close early.
• Know the rough cost. Most hawker dishes cost around S$4 to S$8. Chilli crab at a restaurant costs much more. Prices change, so check the menu board.

Before your first visit, read Hawker Centre Etiquette in Singapore: 9 Simple Rules.

FAQs about must-try dishes in Singapore

What is the one dish I should try in Singapore?

If you only try one, make it chicken rice. It is cheap, mild and sold all over the island. Laksa and chilli crab are close behind if you like spice.

Is Singapore food very spicy?

Some dishes are, but many are not. Chilli is often served on the side, so you can add as much as you like. Laksa, sambal dishes and many curries are the hottest.

How much does a hawker meal cost?

Most hawker dishes cost around S$4 to S$8 a plate. Drinks are extra. Prices change, so check the menu board at each stall.

Where can I try many dishes in one place?

Go to a large hawker centre such as Maxwell Food Centre or Old Airport Road Food Centre. Each has dozens of stalls selling different dishes. Share plates with friends so you can try more.